Alaska 2025

[Neal]

ChatGPT

 

[BGMAC]

I had the same situation on our trip to Alaska. The axle seal leaking. It is actually an easy fix if you have the sealant and tools. You don’t even have to jack up the rv. Remove crome hub cover. Remove the axle bolts pull the axle out. Clean the old seal off. Use an RTV sealant on the mating surfaces. Spline the axle back in. Put lock tight on the axle bolts and tighten. Fill up differential of lost fluid.

 

[stang37]

Friend had the same issue on his Spartan. Remove the cover and found several bolts not tight. That cover will have oil inside as well. A little oil goes a long way when it being slung by wheel movement. Tightening the bolts will help but might not solve the problem. Most likely a new gasket will be needed.

 

[BGMAC]

Friend had the same issue on his Spartan. Remove the cover and found several bolts not tight. That cover will have oil inside as well. A little oil goes a long way when it being slung by wheel movement. Tightening the bolts will help but might not solve the problem. Most likely a new gasket will be needed.

According to several heavy truck mechanics putting a new gasket on will just leak later on. They only use RTV sealant on the mating surfaces. The new gaskets will compress over time allowing the axle to wear the gasket out.

 

[NWIP]

Update Trials & Tribulations @ARD @NWIP

We went to New North Truck & Equipment in Whitehorse promptly at 8am this morning. @NWIP was first to explain coolant leak and they said get the coach there and they would look at it. Eventually they said they found a leak at the hard line for air compressor cooling feed at the engine. They got a quarter turn tight and leak stopped. Cleaned the residual dampness ran for awhile and remained dry. Good to go.
@ARD was next after lunch and tech repaired her leaking seal and she is good to go so tomorrow we continue north to Alaska.

 

[J&JD]

Update Trials & Tribulations @ARD @NWIP

We went to New North Truck & Equipment in Whitehorse promptly at 8am this morning. @NWIP was first to explain coolant leak and they said get the coach there and they would look at it. Eventually they said they found a a leak at the hard line for air compressor cooling feed at the engine. They got a quarter turn tight and leak stopped. Cleaned the residual dampness ran for awhile and remained dry. Good to go.
@ARD was next after lunch and tech repaired her leaking seal and she is good to go so tomorrow we continue north to Alaska.

Great, great news. Carry on Misfits, carry on!!

 

[ARD]

Well, about a week ago, @NWIP kindly reminded me that it was my turn to post an update. Turns out, being stranded while I wait for Spartan to send a new Trimark module gives me just the window I need! So here we go…

I’ll continue sharing campground and fuel info as best I can (if I miss anything, I’m sure Bill will fill in the blanks). It also seems there’s interest in hearing more about the “adventures” along the way — so I’ll follow this up with a second post focused on the experiences side of things.

Last time, we were just leaving Whitehorse. From there to Tok, boondocking options are pretty limited unless you want a short day and stop near Kluane Lake. If you're taking the route through Dawson City and Top of the World Highway, @NWIP has already shared helpful info on that in previous posts. We didn’t go that way, so here’s what we did:

Make a reservation at Discovery Yukon Lodgings — it’s a beautiful spot to rest, and they offer both serviced and unserviced sites. They fill up quickly, so book as soon as you know your timing. Along the way, you’ll get a proper taste of the famous washboard roads.

By the time we rolled into Tok, our coaches were absolutely coated — dirt, bugs, the works. We stayed at Tok RV Village, which was great. We fueled up just down the road at Vitus, which has two truck-friendly pumps. Bonus: if you stay at Tok RV Village for two nights, they let you use their RV wash bay for free. Much appreciated!

From Tok, we had the most beautiful drive to Valdez, where we spent a week at Eagle’s Rest RV Park. Now I’m currently overnighting at Grand View Café & RV Park (well… more like stuck here, since my coach won’t start). But I’m hoping to roll out soon and meet up with everyone at the Seward KOA Journey.

More to come in my next post — stories, wildlife, and maybe even a fish tale or two.

Discovery Yukon Lodgings

Discovery Yukon Lodgings

Discovery Yukon did not have availability for a serviced site and I needed to run my generator, so they found me my own space for the night. Perfect.

We finally made it on June 18th!

Eagle's Rest RV Park in Valdez (Our Gang of 4 traveling under the moniker of Mile Marker Misfits).

Grand View Cafe and RV Park

 

[Neal]

Beautiful pics, thanks for the update. We're all living vicariously through you two.

 

[Neal]

Looks like someone (cough: @ARD) needs some solar and LiFePO4's. I have some enabling to do upon return.

 

[Headhunter]

Wow beautiful pics, an awesome adventure. Drive safe.

HH

 

[J&JD]

Loving your posts. Sure hope the new module fixes your problem so you can get back on the road and continue your great adventure.

 

[Rosy]

So far Discovery Yukon looks like the only RV park I could stand to stay in...

 

[Piros1]

Very interesting chat. I hope one day to be able to do this. Just two of my last experiences crossing the border were extremely memorable but not in a good way. We had done nothing wrong except maybe were prepared if something did go wrong and they found nothing any of the four crossing but managed to make a mess out of my truck and trailer for me to clean up. We were on an Ontario hunting and fishing trip.

 

[ARD]

So far Discovery Yukon looks like the only RV park I could stand to stay in...

Well, you won't want to go to Alaska then. Beautiful views are to be had, but the sites are close, gravel, sometimes you can even get FHU with 50 amp, but honestly I wouldn't cheat yourself of such a wonderful adventure despite the lack of luxury campgrounds or even 2 star ones.

 

[Rosy]

Well, you won't want to go to Alaska then. Beautiful views are to be had, but the sites are close, gravel, sometimes you can even get FHU with 50 amp, but honestly I wouldn't cheat yourself of such a wonderful adventure despite the lack of luxury campgrounds or even 2 star ones.

My wife hates campgrounds without a lot of trees and privacy and, if we took the kids to a park like that, the neighbours would hate us too.

 

[ARD]

privacy

Yup, not much of that for sure. lol

 

[BGMAC]

Very interesting chat. I hope one day to be able to do this. Just two of my last experiences crossing the border were extremely memorable but not in a good way. We had done nothing wrong except maybe were prepared if something did go wrong and they found nothing any of the four crossing but managed to make a mess out of my truck and trailer for me to clean up. We were on an Ontario hunting and fishing trip.

Well the moment you said going to hunt and fish I would suspect they wanted insure your hunting and fishing stuff met regulations. Coming across as a tourist you there spending money. We had no problems